Who Makes Tom Gore Chardonnay
Tom Gore Vineyards produces Tom Gore Chardonnay. Tom Gore is a second-generation grape farmer from Sonoma County. Together with his family, he helped develop the vineyards of Northern California into a world-class winemaking region. Tom is also the winemaker and sees his wine as an expression of the growing season. He established Tom Gore Vineyards in the 1970s.
How Is Chardonnay Aged
In many old world regions, especially in France, Chardonnay is typically aged with little to no oak present during the aging process. Conversely in many new world regions, especially in Central and Northern California, oak is used extensively to bring about more buttery, vanilla and custard-esque flavors.
What Foods Pair Best With Chardonnay
One reason that people love Chardonnay is its versatility, thanks to the range of styles on the market. Crisp, pure, unoaked Chardonnay like many Chablis goes great as an apéritif with fresh cheeses like goat cheese, as well as oysters, shellfish or delicate fish. Medium-bodied expressions pair well with firmer fish like swordfish, white meats like chicken and pork tenderloin, and aged cheeses like gruyere and gouda. Fat, rich, oaky styles with higher alcohol can handle heavier cream sauces, grilled meats with higher fat content, and even game birds. The key is to match the wines weight with the weight of the food.
You May Like: How To Make A Pallet Wine Rack
Ripeness Of The Chardonnay Grape
Time of harvest is heavily influenced by the climate Chardonnay is grown in. In the Central Coast of California, where the weather is predominantly warm, Chardonnay grapes are often allowed to ripen fully, giving them their distinct tropical fruit flavor and lighter acidity. As soon as Chardonnay grapes are ripe, they begin to lose their acidity at a rapid rate. Vintners in these warmer regions must time their harvests appropriately depending what style of wine theyre looking to produce.
How To Serve Tom Gore Chardonnay
The best way to serve Tom Gore Chardonnay is in regular medium-sized white wine glasses. The large surface gives the wine the necessary aeration. As the air comes into contact with the wine surface, ripe tropical fruit flavors of Tom Gore concentrate before elevating. On top of that, the wine requires chilling at fifty to fifty-four degrees Fahrenheit . Two hours before serving, wrap the bottle with a wet paper towel and place it inside the fridge. Afterward, feel free to uncork the wine and indulge in the wines toasty personality.
Keep in mind that Tom Gore needs to stay cool to be flavorful. To do this, use an ice bucket or wine cooler. The bucket should be filled three-quarters full with equal quantities of ice and water so that iced water surrounds the bottle. The water is then able to transfer the heat from the bottle to melt the ice. Air acts as an insulator, and the bottle chills. Be careful, though, as over-chilling hides the flavors in wines.
You May Like: How To Get Red Wine Out Of A White Shirt
Buying Guide For Best Chardonnay Glasses
To enhance and fully enjoy the qualities of a bottle of wine, its important to match it with the right glass. Acidity, aroma, body, alcohol content, and bitterness all contribute not only to how a particular wine tastes but also how it should be consumed. The shape of the glass affects these qualities especially the wines aroma, which can play a crucial role in how much you enjoy your drink. For example, if you’ve chosen a special wine for its particular notes, you would not be well-served by a glass that dampens those aromas.
For those who regularly enjoy chardonnay, a diverse wine that is also one of the most popular in the world, its a good idea to have a set of chardonnay-specific wine glasses on hand in your kitchen or bar. In this guide, we detail the differences between the two types of chardonnay and which glasses pair well with each type.
The Essential Guide To Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the worlds most popular white wine, and for good reason. Its made from green-skinned grapes that adapt to a variety of climates, and they produce versatile wines in many price points. Chardonnay can be crisp and clean, or rich and oaky. Theres something for everyone, which is why Chardonnay is so beloved.
Recommended Reading: Glasses Made Out Of Wine Bottles
How White Wine Is Made
White wine is all pretty much made the same way, no matter the type. The basic process goes like this:
What Makes A Wine Dry
If the charts above are at all confusing, itâs likely because the term dry doesnât seem like it would be the opposite of sweet. Isnât that sour? Well, in the wine world, dry identifies a particular phenomenon where the acidity, tannins in wine, and aroma all work together to make your mouth feel drier after a sip of wine. In general, higher acidity and an increased amount of tannins, like in deep red wines, will lead to a dry wine.
Dryness can be evaluated after the first sip as your taste buds can feel as though they didnât just have a liquid on them. Many people love this feeling and often these wines can be some of the most enjoyable to drink, especially when paired with food. Though tannins play a role, wine doesnât have to be red to be dry. In fact, some of the most popular white wines like Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio are renowned for their dryness.
Don’t Miss: Will You Be My Bridesmaid Wine
How To Describe The Taste Of Wine
So, to recap: red wine is red because it was fermented with the skins, making it more tannic. White wine has less tannin, and is more acidic. Dessert wines have higher alcohol content and are usually sweeter, and sparkling wine has bubbles.
Easy, right? Of course not. Stopping at red vs. white wines would be like ending a discussion on vehicles at cars vs. trucks. If were going to peg the kind of wine that you enjoy drinking, were going to have to get a bit more specific. Yes, that means were going to have to talk about how a wine tastes.
This is where wine drinkers lose most of us. There is perhaps nothing more subjective about humanity than taste, and trying to find common ground when talking about wine seems ill-fated from the start. But in spite of the glut of snobby descriptors for wine that youll stumble across, there are a few terms that mean pretty much the same thing to everyone.
What Is The Difference Between Unoaked And Oaked Chardonnay
The main difference between the two is that oaked chardonnay is aged in new oak barrels. Unoaked chardonnay is not. If chardonnay is stored in oak barrels, the oak imparts flavour into the wine, that is sweeter, for a taste of caramel, butter and vanilla. This is opposed to the chardonnay being stored in steel or plastic tanks.
An aged organic Chardonnay that spent time in oak can often have lost the showy flavours and its more subtle spicy qualities will be so beautifully melded into the fruit that its presence is nothing short of perfect.
The ageing process gives the wine a buttery flavour that is smooth and delicious. Oaked Chardonnay has been called butter in a glass thanks to the richness provided by the oaking process.
Unoaked Chardonnay, on the other hand, tends to have fruit-forward flavours. A very ripe Chardonnay, such as those from warmer regions like California, will have sweeter, deeper flavours like mango, guava, and pineapple. A barely ripe Chardonnay, from a cool area such as Chablis in northern Burgundy, will taste more of lime, lemon zest, lemon, and green apple.
When Chardonnay wines are aged in oak barrels, they gain more richness, and often a vanilla or coconut note. While oaked can be a useful indication of style, there can be a wide range of styles within the category of oaked Chardonnay, depending on the type and age of oak, as well as all the other factors affecting the wine discussed above.
You May Like: How Much Wine Can A Pregnant Woman Drink
What Are The Four Key Wine Descriptors
Sweetness. Needs no explanation. The opposite of sweet is dry. A wine can also be medium-dry or off-dry .
Acidity. We already talked about this. Acidity is a big deal for white wines, and it makes them refreshing and crisp . Lower acidity makes a wine taste fat.
Tannin. Another one weve already covered. Its all about the tannins for red wine. High tannin wines are astringent, maybe even bitter and inky. Lower tannin wines are smooth and soft, and depending on your tastes, more drinkable.
Body. This refers to the perceived weight and viscosity of the wine. A full-bodied wine feels thick, coating the sides of the glass as you swirl. A light-bodied wine is almost like water. A medium-bodied wine is in-between.
The best way to wrap your taste buds around the four primary wine descriptors is to make yourself a strong cup of tea. Sip it black, without anything added. Thats what something very tannic will taste like . Now, add a squeeze of lemon juice and taste it. Thats acidity joining the party. Combined with the tannic taste, it should taste astringent. Now, stir in some sugar for some sweetness. This mellows everything out to make it taste soft.
There’s a fifth thing to be aware of when describing wineflavor. Unlike the four key descriptors, flavor encompasses every descriptor under the sun and is far more subjective.
Hot tip: Pair oaky wines with salty food. Salt cuts the bitterness of oak in much the same way that salt makes shots of tequila go down smoother.
How To Pair Chardonnay With Food
Due to its wide array of styles and profiles, Chardonnay can pair with almost every kind of food. Lighter, unoaked Chardonnay, like Chablis, is a great match for fresh cheese or delicate seafood. Medium-bodied expressions hold their own with poultry, pork tenderloin, or aged cheeses. Higher-alcohol or full-bodied Chardonnay pairs well with entrées with a rich cream sauce or even grilled meats.
Core Grapes & Wines
Recommended Reading: How To Get Red Wine Out Of A White Shirt
What Does Chardonnay Wine Taste Like
Depending on the wine region and winemaking process, Chardonnay can have a wide range of flavors. But in general, Chardonnay is dry, medium- to full-bodied with moderate tannins and acidity. It typically has tropical fruit flavors although it’s not sweet.
If Chardonnay is aged in oak barrels, it will have a creamier texture and buttery taste with hints of vanilla and spice. If it’s unoaked Chardonnay that’s aged in stainless steel barrels , it will have a crisper consistency with bright and fruity flavors of green apple and lemon similar to Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
Either way, Chardonnay has a higher alcohol content than the U.S. standard for the average glass of wine, which is 12% ABV. When produced in cooler climates like France, Chardonnay averages about 13.5% ABV. If the wine comes from warm climates such as California, Chile, or South Africa, it’ll be closer to 15% ABV.
Understanding Wine Is A Process
Take the next month to buy one new bottle of wine a week . Uncork and take a few moments to taste and describe it using the descriptors above. Make sure you try a different type of wine each week and repeat the same process. At the end of the month you’ll start to feel more comfortable with the vocabulary of wine, which can have a profound effect on your enjoyment.
At the end of the day, you really cant make a wrong choice. As long as you pay attention to what it is that you dont like about a wine, each bottle will get you closer to what you do like. Take it one glass at a time and dont be afraid to admit it if you cant quite put your finger on something. Focus on enjoying your winethats the entire point.
Read Also: Snacks With Red Wine
Wine : Types Of Wines & Basics For Beginners
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
If you like to drink wine but dont know much about it, then this Beginners Guide to Wine is for you! Learn about different types of wines, decipher those terms you hear all the time but dont understand, and go from newbie to expert.
There are so many different types of wine, its hard to keep them straight. But you dont have to be a sommelier to understand the basics of wine, wine types, and flavors!
Im here to teach you a thing or two about wine, so you can easily impress your friends and dinner guests when you order the perfect bottle. Or at the very least, youll be able to nod along at that wine tasting and know what theyre talking about when they hand you a glass of Merlot.
Im not claiming to be a wine EXPERT here, but I do have enough experience drinking it to go around. So sit back and take notes because this is WINE 101.
Does Chardonnay Have Sugar In It How About Calories And Carbs
Chardonnay is usually made in a dry style. This means that after the grapes are pressed, the sugar from the grape must is converted into alcohol by yeast. When all of the sugar is converted, it creates a fully dry wine. Sometimes, a little sugar called residual sugar , is left behind. This might be purposeful, to give a hint of richness and sweetness to the wine, or it might be because the yeast didnt finish the fermentation. A few grams per liter of RS is still considered a dry wine, however. Of course, a wine without sugar doesnt equate to a wine without calories. Alcohol has calories. Typically, a 5-ounce serving of Chardonnay has 120 calories, and theres 625 calories in the typical 750ml bottle. If a Chardonnay has a touch of residual sugar, the wine will have carbohydrates or carbs, but only a small amount. Dry wines usually range between zero and 4 grams of carbohydrates.
Read Also: Where To Buy Mogen David Wine
Types Of Regional Wines
- Bordeaux Wine: These are wines produced in the Bordeaux region of France. While a variety of grapes are grown in the region, the most common types are Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Burgundy Wine: These are wines produced in the Burgundy region of France. A Red Burgundy is usually a Pinot Noir, while a White Burgundy is usually a Chardonnay.
- Champagne: Champagne is sparkling wine, but the name can only be applied to wines produced in the Champagne region of France.
What Makes Wine Dry
So, why does wine taste dry in some instances? Professional food scientists and wine writers have been looking at this for years, and they have come up with three different aspects of wine that decide whether it is dry or sweet, as to better place it in the wine chart.
These three aspects are the aroma, the tannins, and the acidity. Of course, sweet wines have these as well, but in different combinations. Tannins that are high will produce a more drying effect in the mouth when paired with high acidity and an aroma that is less sweet it will create the drying impact even more.
Some of the driest red wines that you can look for include a bold and bitter finish or savory flavors, like Tannat, Bordeaux, Aglianico or French Malbec.
Dry white wines include lemon and mineral flavors primarily and include options like Italian Pinot Grigio, Gavi, Muscadet, Vinho Verde, and Arinto. These wines will give you the bone-dry taste that you may be looking for, but keep in mind that were not kidding when we say theyre going to completely dry out your mouth and your taste buds while you drink.
Don’t Miss: Wooden Pallet Wine Rack
What Are The Flavors In Chardonnay
Primary: Chardonnays flavors swing from lemon zest and chalky minerality to baked apple and tropical fruits like pineapple. There are two reasons for this wide range in flavors: climate and harvest date. The cooler the climate, the more citrus notes become apparent in the grapes. The same applies to grapes that are harvested earlier. In warmer climates and later harvests, grapes develop more sugar and lose some acidity. Its flavors develop into riper, richer fruits. These are called primary flavors, because they derive directly from the grape.
Should Chardonnay Be Chilled
Keeping white wine, rosé wine, and sparkling wine chilled punctuates their delicate aromas, crisp flavors, and acidity. Fuller-bodied whites like oaked Chardonnay are best when served between 50-60 degrees, which brings out their rich textures. Dessert wines also are great in this temperature range.
Don’t Miss: Does Red Wine Cause Kidney Stones
